Wireless phone charger-- some tricks to get it working with a case

ctrlz · 12-21-2016, 10:02 AM

I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 in a UAG case. With the case off, the phone charges 100% of the time. With the case on, I can get it to charge about 70% of the time now.
The problem is these wireless induction chargers only have a range of a few millimeters. With my (albeit thin) case on the phone it leaves a gap of at least 5 mm between the back of the phone and top of the charging pad, because it can't lay flat. That probably pushes the actual distance between the two wire coils to about 10 mm, certainly the edge of the effective range.
The charging cycle goes through a handshake process. It identifies the device and its charging protocol through RFID. Once the charger and device "handshake" successfully, the charger can modulate the field to keep the devices connected. If the handshake fails, you get nothing.
I have found the best way to get a good handshake is to put the phone on the pad BEFORE I start the car. I have it oriented with the bottom of the phone toward the driver. The phone is slightly angled with the driver's edge lower than the passenger side. I suspect the charging coil on this phone is centered or closer to the bottom, since the camera is at the top. Not sure, but seems to work in this orientation.
Most of the time when I start I get the green lightning bolt next to the phone. About 70% of the time I have success, but certainly not 100%. Once I move the phone... forget it! The thing is supposed to repeat the handshake process. If I pull off the case it will handshake again and charge. So I suspect the initial handshake at vehicle start must be a stronger effort somehow, because that's the only one that seems to work with the case on.

Spanky1 · 12-21-2016, 10:25 AM

Just the fact that you have to post about how to place your phone exactly says fail. The pad is way too touchy to get it to charge! What a piece of crap!!!

edgehead2000 · 12-21-2016, 10:50 AM

One of the biggest gimmicks that designers didn't need to add. It's a niche market.

chozn4service · 12-21-2016, 11:26 AM

Mine works with my iPhone6 but I hate that the charging case I have offers no protection. That said I'm wondering if I can just remove the stamp that's inside the case and a little bit of adhesive if needed and place it inside my OtterBox. I wish the charging pad had been placed up front, maybe even on the side of the console in a drop slot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lanzz · 12-21-2016, 05:34 PM

It's not much better in the new Mercedes Benz E300... Pad is small, tucked into a tiny slot in front of the cupholders, and very sensitive to the phone being in a case or being positioned exactly before it will charge. And even then, it charges about half the time.

ctrlz · 12-21-2016, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chozn4service

I'm wondering if I can just remove the stamp that's inside the case and a little bit of adhesive if needed and place it inside my OtterBox.

I bet you could get that to work. You can't mangle the coil too much. You might even be able to buy a new, perfectly flat coil and interface it to your otterbox. Not sure how much control circuitry is on your existing case. Might be relatively easy transfer the control circuitry to a new coil.
http://www.we-online.com/web/en/pass...tion_75966.php

2017 2SS · 01-01-2017, 05:10 AM

I just picked up my SS yesterday. I have a galaxy 7 edge. Maybe it's just me but I can't get it to sit properly. Im guessing it is too big for this charger. Anyone else have a 7 edge and get it to seat fully. I have only tried for about 5 min to charge it

ctrlz · 01-02-2017, 02:24 PM

As someone pointed out in another thread, the rubber tray lining is very easy to remove simply by pulling straight up. With a bigger phone, you then have the option to lay it in the open area normally lined by the tray. Anything that gets the coil in the phone closer to the coil in the console will improve chances of a handshake.
For my phone I found that the space within rubber lining is only about 1 mm longer than my case. So instead of resting the phone at an angle, I now gently compress the phone into the rubber bumper until it lays flat. A bit snug for now, but I expect it to loosen with continued use. And it charges every time once flat.

JCunningham · 04-09-2017, 12:33 AM

i have a S7 edge i had to remove it from the case and remove the rubber just for it to pause because the battery was low and never come on again. the weather has prevented me from doing anything but drive the car home from the dealer so ill have to check it again with the car running.

blpadge2 · 04-09-2017, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2017 2SS

I just picked up my SS yesterday. I have a galaxy 7 edge. Maybe it's just me but I can't get it to sit properly. Im guessing it is too big for this charger. Anyone else have a 7 edge and get it to seat fully. I have only tried for about 5 min to charge it

Same boat as you with the 2016 SS and a Galaxy S7 edge. A cup holder back there would have been more practical.

TenSeven · 04-10-2017, 12:21 AM

I'm another S7 Edge phone user, didn't even bother to try to get it to charge wireless in the car.

Remove the case, remove rubber charge pad, angle phone just right? Ohhh... no no no... too much hassle.

I just ran a nice cable and connect it to my phone in the console pocket. Much less troublesome.

JCunningham · 04-10-2017, 12:32 AM

im thinking the 1st turn i make the phone will be under the seat and get crushed when the seat moves back when i open the door. I love the automatic seats.

JCunningham · 04-10-2017, 12:33 AM

o it pauses it when its running too. never got it to work

Karma81 · 08-10-2017, 10:08 AM

Some friends went out in my car one night and she noticed the charger, She put her phone in it to check it out and..........you guessed it, NOTHING!! Honestly I forgot it was even there. She drives a new Range Rover Evoque, but is always commenting on how nice the finished and design of my car is. Then the stupid wireless charger doesn't work. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head.
Why did they even bother putting that piece of shit in my car?!!

12-21-2016, 10:02 AM	#1
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,558	Wireless phone charger-- some tricks to get it working with a case I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 in a UAG case. With the case off, the phone charges 100% of the time. With the case on, I can get it to charge about 70% of the time now. The problem is these wireless induction chargers only have a range of a few millimeters. With my (albeit thin) case on the phone it leaves a gap of at least 5 mm between the back of the phone and top of the charging pad, because it can't lay flat. That probably pushes the actual distance between the two wire coils to about 10 mm, certainly the edge of the effective range. The charging cycle goes through a handshake process. It identifies the device and its charging protocol through RFID. Once the charger and device "handshake" successfully, the charger can modulate the field to keep the devices connected. If the handshake fails, you get nothing. I have found the best way to get a good handshake is to put the phone on the pad BEFORE I start the car. I have it oriented with the bottom of the phone toward the driver. The phone is slightly angled with the driver's edge lower than the passenger side. I suspect the charging coil on this phone is centered or closer to the bottom, since the camera is at the top. Not sure, but seems to work in this orientation. Most of the time when I start I get the green lightning bolt next to the phone. About 70% of the time I have success, but certainly not 100%. Once I move the phone... forget it! The thing is supposed to repeat the handshake process. If I pull off the case it will handshake again and charge. So I suspect the initial handshake at vehicle start must be a stronger effort somehow, because that's the only one that seems to work with the case on.

12-21-2016, 11:26 AM	#4
chozn4service Drives: 2016 SS w/2SS A8 Blue Velvet Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 39.793153,-86.238223 Posts: 3,678 View My Garage	Mine works with my iPhone6 but I hate that the charging case I have offers no protection. That said I'm wondering if I can just remove the stamp that's inside the case and a little bit of adhesive if needed and place it inside my OtterBox. I wish the charging pad had been placed up front, maybe even on the side of the console in a drop slot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Never grow up, it's a trap!

12-21-2016, 10:25 AM	#2
Spanky1 Drives: 2017 2SS Summit White Camaro M6 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Little Neck, NY Posts: 312	Just the fact that you have to post about how to place your phone exactly says fail. The pad is way too touchy to get it to charge! What a piece of crap!!!

12-21-2016, 10:50 AM	#3
edgehead2000 2016 Camaro 1LT 2.0T Drives: Nemesis Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 844	One of the biggest gimmicks that designers didn't need to add. It's a niche market.

12-21-2016, 05:34 PM	#5
Lanzz Drives: 2019 MB E450, 2019 Miata RF Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 56	It's not much better in the new Mercedes Benz E300... Pad is small, tucked into a tiny slot in front of the cupholders, and very sensitive to the phone being in a case or being positioned exactly before it will charge. And even then, it charges about half the time.

01-01-2017, 05:10 AM	#7
2017 2SS Account Suspended Drives: 2010, 2SS, 2017 2SS on order Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii Posts: 151	I just picked up my SS yesterday. I have a galaxy 7 edge. Maybe it's just me but I can't get it to sit properly. Im guessing it is too big for this charger. Anyone else have a 7 edge and get it to seat fully. I have only tried for about 5 min to charge it

01-02-2017, 02:24 PM	#8
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,558	As someone pointed out in another thread, the rubber tray lining is very easy to remove simply by pulling straight up. With a bigger phone, you then have the option to lay it in the open area normally lined by the tray. Anything that gets the coil in the phone closer to the coil in the console will improve chances of a handshake. For my phone I found that the space within rubber lining is only about 1 mm longer than my case. So instead of resting the phone at an angle, I now gently compress the phone into the rubber bumper until it lays flat. A bit snug for now, but I expect it to loosen with continued use. And it charges every time once flat.

04-09-2017, 12:33 AM	#9
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,069	i have a S7 edge i had to remove it from the case and remove the rubber just for it to pause because the battery was low and never come on again. the weather has prevented me from doing anything but drive the car home from the dealer so ill have to check it again with the car running.

04-10-2017, 12:21 AM	#11
TenSeven Drives: 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 299 View My Garage	I'm another S7 Edge phone user, didn't even bother to try to get it to charge wireless in the car. Remove the case, remove rubber charge pad, angle phone just right? Ohhh... no no no... too much hassle. I just ran a nice cable and connect it to my phone in the console pocket. Much less troublesome.

04-10-2017, 12:32 AM	#12
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,069	im thinking the 1st turn i make the phone will be under the seat and get crushed when the seat moves back when i open the door. I love the automatic seats.

04-10-2017, 12:33 AM	#13
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,069	o it pauses it when its running too. never got it to work

08-10-2017, 10:08 AM	#14
Karma81 Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: CT Posts: 262	Some friends went out in my car one night and she noticed the charger, She put her phone in it to check it out and..........you guessed it, NOTHING!! Honestly I forgot it was even there. She drives a new Range Rover Evoque, but is always commenting on how nice the finished and design of my car is. Then the stupid wireless charger doesn't work. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head. Why did they even bother putting that piece of shit in my car?!!

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